PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL ALT less than 2 times upper limit of normal No hepatitis A, B, or C Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No serious cardiopulmonary disorder No congestive heart failure No symptomatic coronary artery disease No serious cardiac arrhythmia Pulmonary: No serious cardiopulmonary disorder No symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Immunologic: Reactive to at least 1 of the following skin test antigens: Candida, mumps, Trichophyton, intermediate strength PPD, tetanus toxoid No concurrent disease requiring corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs No autoimmune disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis-dermatomyositis, or vasculitic syndrome No prior anaphylactic response to other vaccine No hypersensitivity to MVF-HER-2(628-647) Other: No active HIV No active infection requiring antibiotic therapy No serious medical disease Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception